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Fujikawa heads to DL with strained right forearm

4/1/13: Kyuji Fujikawa gets Russell Martin to fly out to center to record his first Major League Baseball save in a 3-1 Cubs victory

By Carrie Muskat
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MLB.com |

CHICAGO -- The Cubs placed closer Kyuji Fujikawa on the 15-day disabled list Saturday because of a strained right forearm, and will go with a closer by committee for now.

Fujikawa, who blew a save situation on Friday but ended up with the win as the Cubs rallied against the Giants, has apparently been dealing with the discomfort in his forearm for a few days.

"The last couple days, it's been bothering him a little bit," Cubs manager Dale Sveum said.

Fujikawa tried to make it work on Friday.

"He even admitted that to stay away from discomfort, he was changing his arm angle," Sveum said.

A closer for Hanshin in Japan for 12 years before signing with the Cubs this offseason, Fujikawa said he's had this problem in the past and it usually sidelined him for 10 days. The move is precautionary, the pitcher said.

"Being in an important role with the team, if it's not helping the team and hurting them, it's better to make a decision," Fujikawa said through interpreter Ryo Shinkawa.

Fujikawa replaced Carlos Marmol as the closer last Sunday in Atlanta, but Sveum won't automatically go back to Marmol to finish games now. Shawn Camp and James Russell will likely be given the duties.

"It'll probably come down to matchups and what happened earlier in the game," Sveum said. "I don't think I'll use Marmol right now. That will be on down the road if anything like that happens. I want to keep [Marmol] in the role we talked about a few days ago. We're not going to change that."

Fujikawa was not expected to undergo an MRI.

The Cubs recalled right-hander Rafael Dolis from Triple-A Iowa to take Fujikawa's place. Dolis, 25, has made three relief appearances at Iowa this season, during which he has given up one earned run over 2 1/3 innings.